Emmys 2013: What Should Win Outstanding Comedy Series? Take Our Poll!

That’s the big question looming over the 2013 Emmy race for Outstanding Comedy Series — seeing how ABC’s Wednesday-night smash has taken home the statuette for three straight years, and will be angling for its fourth during the Sept. 22 ceremony.

There’s only one first-time nominee in the category this time around (FX’s Louie), while both HBO’s Veep and Girls are back in the race for the second year running.

The other two shows with eyes on Modern Family‘s prize are veterans of the Emmy wars. NBC’s 30 Rock, in fact, is a three-time Best Comedy winner, having taken home the trophy from 2007-2009, before Modern Family broke its streak. With Tina Fey’s ensemble comedy having ended its seven-season run in January, the 2013 race marks its final chance at Emmy glory.

The Big Bang Theory, meanwhile, is hoping there’s some truth to the adage “third time’s the charm,” considering it got blanked in its first two attempts at Outstanding Comedy (in 2011 and 2012).

What would you do if you had the power to honor one of these fine shows when the Emmys are handed out? Take our poll below to vote for your favorite — TVLine voting closes Sept. 15, so act now! — then hit the comments to justify your pick!

Every day for the next month, we’ll launch another “Who Should Win” Emmy poll, so come back to TVLine.com every day to weigh in on who’s most worthy of TV’s biggest honor, and to stay up to speed on all our races, follow me on Twitter @MichaelSlezakTV!

Louie is great because it is original and outrageous.
I think that TBBT is overlooked because it seems easy and maybe even juvenile. But it makes me laugh and care about the characters in a way that other shows do not. It’s smart in a way that doesn’t say “look how smart I am”.

If Parks and Recreation or (even though I don’t consider it a comedy) Enlightened were nominated, I’d go with either of them. Of the nominees though, I don’t watch Louie or Girls so I can’t judge them. But I’d love to see Veep take it. In the middle of season two now on an HBOGO marathon and it’s hysterical. I’d be happy with 30 Rock or Big Bang Theory as well because their seasons were some of their best work imo. Just hope that Modern Family doesn’t control everything again. I enjoy it, but it needs to rest as it’s not the end all be all.

A wide appeal? It’s about a group of genius scientists (I know, I know, it’s got the relationship between a group of friends, happy, happy, feelings…..). Modern family is about a family. Most people have families.

Parks and Rec, New Girl, or Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23… oh wait…
I do want to watch Veep though. I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
This season of TBBT was pretty good but it’s still a fairly mediocre comedy.
And Modern Family has its ups and downs but no.

if any of those shows is going to unseat Modern Family it’s gonna be Big Bang Theory. i feel like it’s reached enough critical mass that it’s the 2nd runner up at this point. then again, i will always champion Veep because though many people might just shrug it off as EH julia louis-dreyfuss is carrying that show, that is the opposite of what is true. it is in fact a brilliant ensemble piece with fantastic actors all around and its only gotten better in season 2.

Parks and Rec should win, but Emmy voters are morons. Of the nominated shows, it should go to either 30 Rock or Louie. 30 Rock had an excellent final season and really is one of the best comedies to have ever been on TV in my opinion. And Louie is one of the most unique shows on TV, completely deserving of recognition as well. Knowing the Emmy voters, though, they’ll probably give it to either Modern Family (which is decent but nowhere near as consistently good as other shows on TV) or Big Bang Theory (which is simply one of the worst sitcoms on TV).

I love BBT but my vote is with Modern Family. I don’t understand the backlash. It is only 3 seasons old. And there is fantastic emsemble writing on here. Everyone gets funny (it is not 1 or 2 people holding the show together). I love it.

Parks and Recreation should be nominated and should win!! (but we know the Emmys are good at snubbing. Predictable every year!)

I like Modern Family but my vote goes to Veep, the second season was brilliant and I think its underrated. However I wouldn’t mind if 30 Rock won, it was consistently funny every season and had a good send off. I don’t find TBBT funny at all, surprised it has such a big lead in this poll!

I watched Modern Family for two seasons and then got bored with it. I’m a bit surprised how Hot In Cleveland and The Exes don’t get nominated. Both are quite funny and the only comedies I watch. Apparently the Emmys snub TV Land as well.

Look… I’m one of the biggest fans of The Big Bang Theory you could find… but I’d also be the first to say that it absolutely doesn’t deserve an Emmy win for this season. Seasons 5 and 6 are definitely a step down from the first four seasons… and it baffles me that everyone doesn’t see that. The decline is just so obvious. Where it used to be a show that *about* geekdom… it is now a show that frequently *makes fun* of it. The storylines used to be about the friendship and ensuing hijinks of the guys… now they’re almost exclusively relationship storylines. Almost gone are the elements that made it more intelligent (and therefore funnier) than most traditional sitcoms. Seasons 1-4 were all more than deserving of Emmy wins. Seasons 5 and 6? Not so much. As far as acting goes, Jim Parsons is deserving every year. Simon Helberg was also quite strong this year. Kalely Cuoco on the other hand, was completely snubbed in the earlier years… but she just hasn’t had Emmy-worthy material the past two seasons.

I feel exactly the opposite. It was heavily making fun of the characters in the earlier seasons as we watched them be outcasted and find failures with their only triumphs being in petty things, now it is about their successes in their careers and relationships. This past season was their best season yet, and I do feel it deserves the nomination, but it wasn’t the best comedy of the season.

THIS. Season 6 is actually probably the strongest season the show has EVER had, with the episode about Howard’s dad being a standout. I’d even go controversial and say that TBBT was better than Community this past season.

With that said, even coming of a very strong season, nothing about TBBT’s directing or writing has ever been outstanding – it’s the cast’s performances that carry the show- and in order to win Best Comedy all of these factors need to come together.

Veep or 30 Rock should win for a truly stellar sophmore season and final season respectively.

I completely agree. I think Amy and Bernadette have brought it down since they don’t add much in terms of comedy and they bring everyone else down. Plus its too crowded at times. My favorite comedy is easily two and a half men. Still great after so long. Himym was really good but has been really bad the past couple seasons